entanglement

[en-tang-guh l-muh nt]

See more synonyms for entanglement on Thesaurus.com

noun

the act of entangling.
the state of being entangled.
something that entangles; snare; involvement; complication.

Origin of entanglement

First recorded in 1630–40; entangle + -ment

Related formsin·ter·en·tan·gle·ment, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for entanglement

Contemporary Examples

The corporate eye does not light up over inappropriate sexual behavior and entanglement with the law.
Autism and Child Pornography: A Toxic Combination
Eustacia Cutler
August 5, 2013

Historical Examples

The second, after a brief struggle, followed with the entanglement.
Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 150, March 29, 1916
Various
We had as well take a day off to do our part in this entanglement.
David Lannarck, Midget
George S. Harney
You'll enjoy watching us get out of this entanglement, whatever it is.
General John Regan
George A. Birmingham
Literally, to take the feet out of entanglement; hence, to hasten.
Orthography
Elmer W. Cavins
This entanglement made Carrie anxious for a change of some sort.
Sister Carrie
Theodore Dreiser

British Dictionary definitions for entanglement

entanglement

noun

something that entangles or is itself entangled
a sexual relationship regarded as unfortunate, damaging, or compromising

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for entanglement

n.

1640s, from entangle + -ment. Foreign entanglements does not appear as such in Washington's Farewell Address, though he nonetheless warns against them. The phrase is found in William Coxe's 1798 memoirs of Sir Robert Walpole.

entanglement

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}entanglement

Examples from the Web for entanglement

Contemporary Examples

The corporate eye does not light up over inappropriate sexual behavior and entanglement with the law.

Historical Examples

The second, after a brief struggle, followed with the entanglement.

We had as well take a day off to do our part in this entanglement.

You'll enjoy watching us get out of this entanglement, whatever it is.

Literally, to take the feet out of entanglement; hence, to hasten.

This entanglement made Carrie anxious for a change of some sort.

entanglement

Word Origin and History for entanglement

n.

Origin of entanglement